While Joel Zimmerman — better known as the man under the signature mouse helmet and moniker, ‘deadmau5’ — is making a familiar return to Red Rocks for two nights, Nov. 7th and 8th, he will be missing an iconic piece of his act.

Zimmerman has officially retired, ‘the Cube’, an elevated, LED-paneled, rotating stage that has dazzled concertgoers since it first appeared in 2010 at Coachella. Instead, Red Rocks will be the official debut for a new stage design that Zimmerman has spent around a month perfecting, with a new single, ‘Ameonna,’ in tow as well. 

“I’m at the point of no return where I have to use the system now because I can’t go back to anything else… That goes on a truck and on its way to Denver and I hope it makes it there in one piece and we’re all good. There will be a show, no doubt. I just want it to be the one that I’ve been designing for the last month,” Zimmerman told The Denver Gazette. 

Red Rocks underwent an expansive stage remodeling in 2023, including an improved roof with more structural integrity. It proved to be the perfect venue for the new design. 

“Red Rocks is unique in the sense of like, as a venue, where if you are doing a solo ticket, you have a lot of control,” Zimmerman said. 

Zimmerman’s close confidant, Rezz, played the venue recently and was able to hoist LED walls from the new roof, something that wouldn’t have been possible before the renovation, Zimmerman said. The new look coincides with new music from the legendary electronic artist, who is planning an album release next year after his Red Rocks stage re-design launches.

“Once that’s off my plate and dusted, then you know, I get back in the studio and I’ve got just weeks and weeks to sit down and just compose, maybe like five more songs and then yeah, sure. We can call that an album,” Zimmerman joked. 

Since 2021, Zimmerman has done two-night runs at Red Rocks each year, and previously played the venue many times, noting its influence. 

“Every major city has that venue, not just America. In Europe, it’s Ministry of Sound, in Canada it’s the Rogers Centre. But 100%, Red Rocks expands beyond the borders of Denver,” Zimmerman said. 

Before the shows next Friday and Saturday, Zimmerman is hosting a free pop up and meet-and-greet event at 95 Cherokee St. from noon to 3 p.m. each day. 

For Zimmerman, being back again this year just feels right, albeit without enough hours to explore.

“I’m like sweating in rehearsals and our photographer Leah is like out on the slopes… God, I never have the time,” he added. 

Zimmerman’s Red Rocks performances will be five hours straight both nights and highlighted with special techno and drum and bass segments. With a new look and music too, both nights promise to be special concerts, even for Zimmerman’s career of more than 25 years.

“I love Colorado. I don’t know, the air is different there,” Zimmerman said.